Does de Blasio Have the Tools to Reverse New York's Growing Inequality?

Mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio's quest to reduce New York City's growing inequality is an admirable one, and a message that has clearly resonated with voters. But do local leaders have the tools to achieve such goals?

"Few would argue that inequality isn’t a real and growing problem," writes David Freedlander. "But it is also a national problem. Can cities, states, and municipalities address it meaningfully on their own?"

During his campaign, de Blasio has proposed higher taxes to fund universal pre-K and building more affordable housing to help reduce inequality. But even if he were successful in pursuing such policies, would they have a demonstrable impact?

"If a mayor really wanted to reduce inequality, he would have to take measures that are not currently on the table, like vastly boosting the wages of the city’s workforce, creating a spillover effect in other industries, creating a citywide living wage and reducing or eliminating the debt load of New York residents, according to Jack Rasmus, a professor of economics at St. Mary’s College of California."

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